Xisted, and Only Fragmented Initiatives Were in Place
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1. NAME MyCoast – Elaboration of a vision and a strategy for Integrated Coastal Zone Management in Bulgaria 2. DESCRIPTION 2.1 The case Bulgaria’s coastal territory is distributed among three administrative districts, the oblasts of Dobrich, Varna, and Bourgas. The main problem and source of conflicts along the coastline is the overuse of resources (land, water, biodiversity) caused by the booming tourism sector, accompanied by the construction of resorts, jetties and golf clubs. Strong population fluctuations due to seasonal flows of tourists aggravate pressures on natural resources. Pollution as a result of poor wastewater treatment and illegal waste disposal was a prominent problem. Furthermore, erosion is creating risks for coastal protection. At the time when the MyCoast project was conducted (2006-2009) no national legislation or strategy for Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) existed, and only fragmented initiatives were in place. Mandates and responsibilities for ICM were unclear. National and regional development plans were based on sectoral approaches, focusing on short-term economic benefits, and municipalities were competing for powerful investors. Implementation and enforcement of plans and laws was weak. Through stakeholder workshops, the MyCoast project (2006-2009) formulated 30 year ICM visions for four case study areas. The discussions in the four areas unfolded in very different ways. In Varna, for example, work was halted early, while Bourgas incorporated the results of the process into the city masterplan. Overall, however, MyCoast did not lead to new initiatives for coastal management. 2.2 Climate impacts X Temperatures X Water Scarcity X Flooding Sea Level Rise X Droughts X Storms Ice and Snow 2.3 Challenges Challenges due to climate change The major threat for Bulgaria’s coastline originating from climate change is the expected increase in frequency of storm-related flooding events, leaving low-lying agricultural lands behind the coastline with high salinities. Brussels, January 2014 1 This problem is particularly severe in the Bourgas area. In contrast to storms, sea level rise is only expected to play a minor role on the Bulgarian coast, however, as it is currently predicted to be modest and most of Bulgaria’s coastline covers mountainous territory. Coastal erosion is also a widespread problem equally threatening sandy beaches, as well as existing coastal protection infrastructure, particularly in the areas surrounding the cities of Varna (Varna), Primorsko (Bourgas), Sarafovo (Bourgas) and Shabla (Dobrich). Finally, a more frequent occurrence of extreme droughts in combination with significant warming in summers as predicted by climate researchers might lead to difficulties for agriculture and the provision of drinking water, particularly in the peak tourism season. 2.4 Objectives The objective of the MyCoast project, which ran from 2006 to 2009, was to improve coastal management on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and to foster the implementation of ICM by means of an integrated approach to spatial planning, based on an open planning process. A contribution was to be made to streamline policies and their respective programmes related to ICM, and stakeholders were to participate in the planning process from the start. The outcome of the project was to be a 30 year vision for a sustainable future of the Black Sea coast and an integrated management plan with specific programs of actions, as a means to coordinate coastal development, covering the administrative districts of Dobrich, Varna, and Bourgas. The open planning process consisted of stakeholder workshops in four case-study areas: Dobrich, Varna, Bourgas and Strandzha. 2.5 Adaptation measures implemented in the case The MyCoast project was based on a collaboration between the for Dutch Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment (VROM) and the Bulgarian Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) on the management and development of the Black Sea Coast. It was funded by VROM, organized by the Agency for International Business and Cooperation of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (EVD) and carried out by a Dutch consultancy together with Bulgarian partners on the ground in a consortium called ‘Povvik’. MyCoast was an approach to implement integrated spatial planning on the Bulgarian coastline as a first step towards ICM. For this, on three stakeholder workshops held in the different oblasts, conflicts and synergies between the various use functions of the coastal area were identified and discussed, and options for improving coordination were collected. A long term plan (30yrs) and a short term approach based on a number of measures were compiled for the respective case areas. A list of measures related to climate change adaptation, which were discussed in the different case areas is provided in table 1. 2.6 Solutions In the MyCoast project, the ICM approach itself, starting with a shared and integrated long-term coastal vision, which is then translated into a strategy and management measures, was seen as a solution to the lack of coordination and the related problems encountered in coastal management in Bulgaria. To reach this ambition, the MyCoast project team employed an open planning process, consisting of stakeholder workshops in four case-study areas: Dobrich, Varna, Bourgas and Strandzha. In Varna, stakeholder workshops came to a halt due to the general rejection of MyCoast and a reluctance to participate by municipal representatives. For Dobrich, Bourgas and Strandzha, respectively, a common vision was produced and possible measures were discussed as solutions to reach the vision. Brussels, January 2014 2 Table 1 displays the measures which were discussed as possible solutions in the three case areas of the MyCoast project. Table 1: Overview of measures discussed in the MyCoast project in stakeholder workshops in the case areas Dobrich, Bourgas and Strandzha, sorted by the sectors to which they apply Sector Measure Case area Water services Promote effective irrigation system Dobrich management Implement long-term water management Dobrich Optimization of water use Dobrich Reduction of water loss Dobrich Enhancement of water reuse Dobrich Desalination Dobrich Modernization of existing and construction of new WWTP Dobrich Agriculture Introduce drought resistant crops Dobrich Transport Modernization of port Bourgas Tourism Eco-Tourism Strandzha Marketing of products from national park Strandzha Spatial planning Practice spatial planning at oblast level Dobrich Incorporate marine and terrestrial parts of coast in spatial plans Dobrich Relocation of industrial zones away from ports Bourgas Integrated planning Bourgas Draft management plans for lakes as basis for protection Bourgas Combine protection with recreation and tourism opportunities Bourgas Introduce a coastal council Bourgas Institutional Enhance implementation, monitoring and control of Dobrich, /Organizational environmental and marine legislation Strandzha measures Increase cooperation between enforcement agencies Strandzha Organize ICZM consultation procedures for the preparation of the Bourgas master plan Establish a maritime monitoring and information system Dobrich Environmental Devise measures against pollution Dobrich protection Mitigation of environmental impact of construction Bourgas Reduction of pollution from ships Bourgas Coastal protection Devise measures against erosion Dobrich Education Develop educational programs on sustainable economic Bourgas development of marine transport, petro chemistry, energy, cultural and historical tourism Raise awareness Strandzha The MyCoast team described the workshops and their results as follows: Dobrich: cooperative atmosphere, fruitful discussions, district showed willingness to take the lead in follow-up steps Varna: municipal representatives blocked discussions on the municipal master plan and were unwilling to answer and discuss issues related to it. Process was stopped by project team Bourgas: discussions fruitful but problems in incorporating plan into municipal master plan, as officials did not accept a document without legal status. Brussels, January 2014 3 Strandzha: discussions fruitful, governor took initiative to install a participative coastal council When approached through interviews again in 2014, most of the participating organizations described the impact of the MyCoast project as very limited. Since the end of the project in 2009, no follow up initiatives were implemented in any of the case study areas, and in the absence of a national coastal and marine strategy, most of the activities related to ICM (mainly activities on coastal defence) are still of a limited scope and rather ad-hoc in nature. Most interviewees, however, considered the MyCoast project an interesting exercise, as they liked the participative approach which brings all stakeholders to a table to discuss the issue at hand, and which had been new to them. Whether MyCoast has influenced the new National strategy for Integrated Marine Policy of Bulgaria, which is currently under development, still remains difficult to judge. 2.7 Importance and relevance of adaptation Case developed and implemented as a climate change adaptation measure Case developed and implemented and partially funded as a climate change adaptation measure X Case mainly developed and implemented because of other policy objectives, but with significant consideration on climate change adaptation aspects 2.8 Pictures Figure 1: Map of case area in oblast